Ezekiel 43:1-27

Shame is not a very pleasant feeling and one that we do our very best to avoid.  However, it is vital to our relationship with God that we experience shame over our sin.  Shame is not always followed by repentance but true repentance is always preceded by shame.  Ezekiel is give a detailed description of the temple, the altar and the glory of God filling the temple so that he can reveal these truths to the people of Israel in order that they might be ashamed of their idolatry.  When God’s holiness, graciousness and mercifulness are revealed to us; the expected response is shame over our sin, repentance of our sin, gratitude for God’s forgiveness and worship of His greatness.

THE GLORY OF GOD FILLS THE TEMPLE: Earlier in this book we had a vision of the glory of God leaving the temple in preparation for its destruction.  Now we have a glorious description of the return of God’s presence to the temple.  Ezekiel is given a view of Israel’s coming restoration and their reconciliation with God.  God’s promise to the people is that He will restore them and will dwell in their presence forever.  This is a promise that goes all the way back to Abraham and it has been repeated all throughout the Old Testament and it is once again distinctly repeated in this passage.  A day is coming when the children of Israel will see the glory of God return in their midst and He will never leave again and they will worship Him is spirit and in truth.  They will turn from their idolatry in shame and they will be reconciled to God.


THE GRACE OF GOD FILLS THE PEOPLE: God’s presence in the future temple is revealed so that they people will be ashamed of their sin and turn to God in repentance.  These are all demonstrations of God’s grace.  It is only by God’s grace that repentance is granted to anyone.  Repentance and faith are gifts of God’s grace that allow man to be rightly related to God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ezekiel gives a detailed description of the Altar in the temple and the process that will be used consecrate that altar with sacrifices.  It appears that these sacrifices will be commemorative of the sacrifice offered by Christ in His own blood.  These sacrifices of animals for sin are not needed for forgiveness but are offered as an act of worship and remembrance of the gracious gift of God’s Son.  It is through His blood that the sins of man are forgiven and through His sacrifice that we can be accepted by God.

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